Alfred J. Gaitwood

was the sixth child born to Jackson J. Gaitwood, Sr. and Lora Hagan Gaitwood; both have preceded him in death as have two brothers and two sisters. His surviving siblings are Curtis (Jeralyn) Gaitwood of San Antonio, Texas, and Roberta Dukes of Mobile, Alabama. He leaves to mourn him a devoted niece, Pam (Harry) Dewees, whom he dearly loved and cherished her love and consistent care, his nephews, nieces, family, and friends.

Al grew up in Mobile, Alabama, attended elementary school then Heart of Mary High school where he enrolled in the band and played clarinet. Al’s talents were emerging even then as he directed and produced the senior play before graduation. Soon after graduation he joined the United States Air Force and extensively traveled the world. He left home with an inherent talent for writing, and as he served his country his love of music broadened. The Air Force stationed Al in Tripoli, Libya where he joined and became Director of the Garden City Glee Club. He had been in the club since 1949, and although he preferred to write and produce music, he took up singing, too. The Glee Club toured bases across Europe, winning vocal contests galore as they rode the post-war barracks circuit.

In 1953, Alfred was transferred to a reserve AF unit in Pittsburg. He connected with some Hill District vocalists and they began making music together, quickly becoming the “Smoothtones,” - a name selected by Al.

The members were: Enoch Hale (first tenor), Joe Martin (second tenor), Walter Lowry (baritone), and Kenny McMillan (bass), with Al on lead.

In early 1955, they recorded two sides (both written by Al) for Lennie Martin's local JEM label: “Bring Back Your Love” b/w “No Doubt About It” (JEM #412), backed by the Walt Harper Orchestra. It was released in June 1955. It was said that disk marked the first time that a song by a black vocal group was issued by a Pittsburgh label.

Until then, the Smoothtones' appearances were mostly limited to record hops hosted by DJs Bill Powell (who would later break “Guided Missile” in Pittsburgh over WILY), Leon Sykes (WMBS), Jay Michael (WCAE), Barry Kaye (WJAS), and, Porky Chedwick (WHOD), who gave the song its first airplay.

After the record broke and did well locally, the band booked a busy schedule, all in the Pittsburgh area. The live regional circuit was their bread and butter but, in early 1956, Al was again reassigned by the Air Force.

His place in the Smoothtones was taken by Sylvester Brooks. The group then cut “It's Too Late Now,” a tune, for JEM. The song was apparently never released by Martin, although Al's next group would later record it on Dootone.

Al ended up at McClellan AFB in Sacramento, started singing with some other airmen who eventually became the Cuff Links. They cut "Guided Missile," which hit the #2 spot in Pittsburgh in 1956. A year later, Al was off to McGuire AFB in Jersey, where he hooked up with yet another group. It seemed that the transfer of Al, who did all their writing, resulted in the conclusion of the Cuff Links shortly afterwards.

"Guided Missles" has persisted as a classic of the DooWop genre and has been republished in over 20 collections of classic rock & roll and DooWop, including MVTV's "The Very Best of DooWop".

His career continued with other groups that he established, sang with, and produced the songs that he wrote. Ultimately, Al founded Gait Records, a Gaitwood Music Publishing Company.

Al Gaitwood was smart, kind, friendly, insightful, and loving. Throughout his life he embraced and regularly visited his family and was an esteemed friend.